BRATISLAVA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Fitch Ratings has affirmed Slovakia's Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at A+ with a stable outlook, Slovak Finance Minister Peter Kazimir confirmed Saturday.
"I'm pleased as this is a grade for our work, and at the same time a factor motivating us to continue in the ongoing responsible fiscal policy trend. It is a good news both at home as well as towards abroad, confirming our attractiveness in the eyes of foreign investors," said Kazimir.
Fitch positively evaluates Slovakia's robust GDP growth. It expects GDP growth to be 3.3 percent in 2017, and rise to 3.8 percent by 2019.
Stronger growth in countries in the EU, its main trade partners, will also support the Slovak economy, it said.
Conversely, Fitch sees potential risks in high openness of the Slovak economy and its strong focus on car exports, as well as unemployment that is still slightly higher than in countries with similar rating despite all-time low it is showing at present.
